Coupling-link for antiskid-chains.



E. s. HOLMES, JR.

COUPLING LINK FOR ANTISKID CHAINS.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.11, 1912.

5 1 Patented Jan 7, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATEN @FFIE.

EDWIN S. HOLMES, JR., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE- HALF TO RANDOLPH T. WARWICK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7,1913.

Application filed March 11, 1912. Serial No. 682,865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known "that I, EDWIN S. HOLMES, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented anew and useful Coupling Link for Antiskid-Chains, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in anti-skid chains for automobilewheels, and to that particular class thereof employing opposite endlesschains connected at intervals by short cross-chains.

Such anti-skid chains as I have mentioned are well-known for theirefficiency, but one of the objections to their use has been the laborinvolved in replacing the short crosschains. when worn through. To meetthis contingency, it has been the practice to remove the worn links ofthe cross-chains by the use of a cold-chisel and substitute for thoselinks thus removed new links made split or open and which were poundedclosed to the accompaniment of great waste of labor and time. Anothermode has been to purchase new. cross-chains, removing the oldcross-chain entirely, but this was accompanied by considerable labor andwaste of time and also the necessity of employing a special tool foropening and subsequently closing the connections usually employedbetween the ends of the cross-chains and the side or circumferentialchains.

The objects of my invention are to avoid these objections and provide asimple conv necting device to be used between the ends of thecross-chains and the opposite circumferential chains, said device beingso constructed as to be capable of being connected to both the ends ofthe cross-chains and,the opposite circumferential chains by hand andwithout the employment of any special tool for the purpose and asreadily disconnected when desired; and furthermore to so construct thedevice as to render it capable of being readily connected anddisconnected to and from the ends of the short cross-chains, whereby theuser may be enabled to purchase the cross-chain in long lengths, cut offthe lengths desired and connect thereto the connecting devicehereinafter described.

Qther objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features of the inventlon will be particularly pointedoutin the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a view in plan of one of myimproved crosschains, the same being shown in connection with so much ofthe two opposite circumferential chains as is necessary to show theapplicability of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of myimproved connecting device; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same;Figs. 4- and 5 are side and front elevations respectively of theconnecting device illus* trating a slight modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figuresof the\ drawmg.

5 designates the opposite or circumferential chains commonly employed inthis type of anti-skid chains, and 6 the short cross-chain, replicationsof the latter being located at intervals, as usual.

The cross-chain 6 comprehends a series of links 7, the number composingthe same corresponding with the diameter ofthe tire upon which the chainis intended for use. The end link of each cross-chain, may, for apurpose hereinafter mentioned, be provided near its outer end with aflattened portion 8.

1O designates my improved device for connecting the ends of thecross-chains to the opposite or circumferential chains. Heretofore, asat present, this device is of a general U-shape. Formerly, however, the

' terminals of the device have been turned together to form hookslocated atone and the same side. In the present instance, however, theterminals are disposed in opposite directions and bends formed toproduce opposing hooks 12', designed to engage, in a manner hereinafterapparent, the adjacent links of the opposite or circumferential chains5. In forming the hooks 12, the stock is brought to within a shortdistance of the shank or body of the hook and thence deflected, thusforming a throat or entrance 15 to the hook and a deflected end 20. Thethroat 15, it will be understood, is approximately the size of the barsof the links composlng the circumferential chains, or, better, slightlyless, so that the said bars must be forced, so to speak, through thethroats of the hooks. The outer or hook-ends of the connecting devices10 are also preferably flared slightly, as at 22, to facilitate the entering of the links of the circumferential chains and the end links ofthe cross-chains.

Back of the hooks 12 the terminals of the connecting devices are of awidth apart amply suficient to receive and permit of the passage of theend links of the cross-chains, but this space is preferably madetortuous to prevent an accidental disconnection of these parts. In orderto accomplish this, I may flatten the said terminals, as at 25, so as tonearly close this entrance, but preferably arrange the flattenedportions out of transverse alinement, as' shown, making the passagetortuous. Of course, if the flattened portions are in transversealinement,

'the links forming the cross-chains would have to be forced betweenthese points. I prefer, however, to so arrange the flattened portions asto simply reduce the intervening space somewhat, so that the links atthe ends of the cross-chains may be passed therebetween by a very slightexertion. To facilitate this too, the flattened portions 8,

heretofore mentioned, may be provided, but

these latter flattened portions are more for the purpose of permitting aconnection and disconnection, with the hooks 12. As a general rule thethroats 15 of the latter are narrower than the space between theterminals of the connecting device, for that the bars forming the linksof the circumferential chains are smaller than those of the links of thecross-chains. By thus reducing the end links of the cross-chains, thisdifference is compensated for. Practically the same result may beaccomplished by kinking the terminals of the connecting devices, as at30, in Figs. 4 and 5 of the'drawing.

The simple connecting device I have described may be used in a varietyof ways, or rather, applications. It may be manufactured and soldseparately, the user buying and cutting into lengths cross-chains towhich the connecting device may be applied; or, again, it may bemanufactured and sold connected to cross-chains already cut'intosuitable lengths, all as preferred.

However this ma be, the operation of ap-.

the flared throat 22 between the terminals and to a point below theterminals of the hooks, after which a quarter turn is given either thelink or the connecting device so as to bring the bar of the linkopposite the throats 15 of the connecting device, and pass the barthrough the throats into the hooks. A reverse operationdisconnects thetwo.

Having described my. invention, what 1 claim is:

1. A coupling for connecting the crosschains to the side chains of ananti-skid device for automobile wheels, comprising a length of wireformed into aloop having substantially parallel members the terminalportions of which are bent to form oppositely disposed hooks withoutwardly flaring bills, and the members of the loop having inwardlyprojecting portions below the hooks and out of transverse alinement to.

of the loop, one member of the. loop having a hump at the inner sidethereof on a plane with the bills of the hooks and the companion memberof the loop having a similar hump adjoining the aforesaid hump towardthe connecting portion of theloop, forming a tortuous passage betweenthe members of the loop, substantially as shown and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWIN s. HOLMES, R.

Witnesses:

' W. S. DUVALL,

H. S. BEALL.

